
Ahh, here we go, the Nintendo Switch 2 coverage you've been waiting for: the new red cartridges still taste bad. Finally, we can all rest now.
GameSpot bravely put this question to Takuhiro Dohta, the director of the Switch 2 and Programming Management Group Senior Director. And he confirmed that, yes, that gross-tasting coating is back. "I do not advise that you do [lick the cartridges]" Dohta told the publication.
We haven't managed to get our hands — or, well, our tongues — on a Switch 2 cartridge yet, but Dohta seemed keen on discouraging people from taste testing the red plastic casing: ""We don't want anybody to be at risk of any unwanted consumption. We have indeed made it so that if it enters your mouth, you'll spit it out." So, yeah, don't eat the cartridges.
Also on hand to weigh in on the cartridge tasting conversation was Kouichi Kawamoto, producer of the Switch 2. He confirmed that he actually did try licking a Switch 1 cartridge. His response? "Never again. I can't believe that other people are trying that."
The original Switch 1 cartridges are coated in Denatonium Benzoate, a bittering agent that is meant to deter kids from tasting the cartridge because of its gross taste. It's non-toxic, so even if you do get curious, there's no danger from trying it, you'll just wish you didn't.
Still, it was a topic of conversation around the Switch 1's launch eight years ago, and everyone just had to try it, didn't they? We're absolutely, positively sure people will do the same with the Switch 2 cartridges.
Let us know if this was the new you were waiting to hear about down below!
[source gamespot.com]





Comments 44
Finally, the answers to the REAL questions on everyone's mind
Excellent. I love grossing people out with it. I introduced my wife to it over the weekend coincidentally. She couldn’t believe they made them taste bad and I dared her to lick Mario kart ! 🤣😂
Good now don't have to try this now , i licked switch 1 carts once before I and instantly regretted it lol 😆.....
One time I absentmindedly touched my tongue for some reason right after touching Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s cartridge. I quickly regretted it lmao
The taste of next gen gaming.
At $80 a pop, the last thing you want is your cartridge eaten.
I never minded the taste…
Noooo! I was so hoping for a caramel-flavored cartridge!
Some fantastic advice and disclaimers
Good Good i was wondering about this. Now if they really wanted it to taste like the switch 2. The flavor of the game cartridge is something in the game. Example: mario = mario's sweating feet after beating a level. Kirby = Bad breath because of all the things he sucks up.
Dang it I was hoping for cherry flavor this time
I don't think Switch cartridges taste nearly bad enough. I've eaten plenty of food that tasted much worse.
Spoiler warning please! 😋
I, uh, I never tried to lick my cartridge.
Finally, the most important bit of information about the Switch 2 has been revealed
Backwards-Palatability
I still go back to that video of Jeff Gerstmann discovering how bad Switch cartridges taste when I need a laugh. Nobody even knew they were made to taste bad at that time haha
Now THIS is gaming journalism! Pulitzer Prize stuff 👍
Maybe American ones can taste nicer?
Yes! Finally the negativity can end.
@larryisaman still a threat!
Licking my new cartridges became a ritual at some point.
"At risk of any unwanted consumption." That's great.
Oh no wait, I didn't want to eat that!
@Zaruboggan you don’t even need to lick the cartridge. Just touch your tongue with your fingers after removing or inserting one and you’ll regret it.
But what about the key code cards?
Should have tasted like a different terrible thing
@MeloMan They taste like nectar of the gods. Ambrosia. Like an angel crying on your tongue.
Somewhat related, but I'm sure most of us remember that 3DS cartridges had a little notch on the side to prevent them from being inserted into a normal DS.
But it appears that Switch 2 cartridges have no such notch to differentiate their shape from Switch 1 cartridges. Hopefully nothing bad happens if someone were to insert a Switch 2 cartridge into a Switch 1.
I am a bad nail biter and every time I touch a switch cartridge I swear I can taste it on my fingers for hours.
I've never had the slightest urge to lick a Switch card, padre - and I don't expect to have such urges in the future.
@SuperBro64 IIRC the notch has been removed on multiple occasions For Science™, and the result was a mundane error screen. Chances are the same fate awaits an NS2 card in a Switch's slot as well. It's not unlike loading a data disk into a basic CD player way back when - it would spin but yield nothing.
@MeloMan They have already left a bad taste in people’s mouths.
it taste like vanilla so bland.. i prefer the original looking carts..
Prices are disgusting too. 🤢😂
Awesome news.... I was getting worried there for a second.
@AllBLK,
You all wanted more features and 4K etc. What did you actually expect. And you very rarely pay full retail for physical games. I bought TOTK for £60, and have just pre ordered Mario Kart World for £70.... both games £10 under the retail price.
You could of course go digital and save. Which makes me think how digital being cheaper has to habe a knock on effect for physical retail prices. In the past the opposite was true and thus protected the physical retailers. Also not every game will be priced at the higher rates. Just like every Switch game was not a the TOTK price point.
@nhSnork,
Go for it......... you don't know what you are missing.
...Maybe try cooking them.
@Joeynator3000,
What would you suggest to go with them. A side order of fried micro SD cards?..... express of course.
@johnvboy .....I dunno, depends on the restaurant. lol
I called it. I had a vision ( so to speak) yesterday that I was gonna wake up to this exact article on NintendoLife soon. Thanks for not letting my dreams be dreams
GG for the image Nintendo Life
8 years to train people. I would have hoped for cyanide coated cartridges to avoid any risk of death by suffocation.
I don’t understand that either LOL but hey now we know!
@Chlocean,
Videogame psychic........ sounds like a Japanese rpg..
Just the games? The entire pricing tastes like *****.
This magical experience is what the extra $30 for physical Mario Kart are for.
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